Ghana, UK join forces to tackle climate change

Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK) have strengthened partnership through adaptation of best land use, forestry and mining practices to fight the adverse impact of climate change.

Consequently, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has expressed hope that the issues of climate change and the illegalities confronting the small-scale mining sector (galamsey) would be addressed through the ties.

This was brought to the limelight when the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, paid a courtesy call on Mr Jinapor on Monday, September 27, in Accra.

He assured of the country’s participation in United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, scheduled from October 31 to November 12, 2021.

He noted that as the Co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates for UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would lead a delegation from Ghana to the conference.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which is a legally binding commitment of countries across the world to reduce emissions.

The minister used the occasion to commend the UK government for helping to sanitise the timber industry in Ghana and lauded the historic and strong relationship between the two countries.

On her part, Harriet Thompson assured the minister of the UK government’s determination to support Ghana in rolling out activities that would enhance development in the lands, forestry and mines sectors and deal particularly with matters relating to climate change.

She called on Ghana to join the world to commit to the global pledge to reduce global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius.

The High Commissioner commended Ghana’s role in curbing climate change and hoped such effort would be sustained to help make the world a better place.

She also encouraged countries globally to come good on climate finance.

Describing the UK-Ghana relationship as very broad and deep, Ms Thompson said, “I am very pleased that you had constructive relationships with my predecessors.”

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